Slitted blank for expanded metal structures.



No. 689,939. Patented 088 31, mm.

H. E. WHITE. SLITTED BLANK FOB EXPANDED METAL STRUCTURES.

(Application filed Aug. 11, 1900.)

(No Model.)

THE Nonms nrrzns co. PHOYO-LITNO., WASHINGTON, D. c

Unrrnn Starts Parent rricE.

HERBERT E. IVI-IITE, OF NILES, OIIIO, ASSIGNOR TO INTERNATIONAL METAL LATII COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SLITTED BLANK FOR EXPAiiDEE) METAL STRUCTURES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 689,939, dated December 31, 1901.

Application filed August 11, 1900. Serial No. 26,573. (No model.)

To 60% whom it may concern: The invention will be best understood by .1 Be it known that I, HERBERT E. WVHITE, an immediate description of the accompanymehanieal engineer, a resident of Niles, in the ing drawings, whereincounty of Trumbull and State of Ohio, have Figure 1 shows a corner portion of a slit- 5 invented certain new and useful Improveted blank embodying the present invention.

ments in Slitted Blanks for Expanded Metal Fig. 2 is a cross-section thereof on the plane Structures, of which the following is a de- 2 2 of Fig. 1 looking toward the left-hand. scription, illustrated by the accompanying Fig. 3 is a section on the plane 3 3 looking drawings. toward the left hand. Fig. 4 is a partial sec- 10 The invention relates to slitted blanks for tion on the oblique plane 4 4 looking toward forming expanded metal structures having the left hand. Fig. 5 is a section at right analternate ribs and slatted open-work sections, gles to the ribs on the plane 5 5 of Fig. l and examples of which are to be seen in United also showing in cross-section two cutting- States Letters Patent No. 651,643, granted to dies in position to cut one of the slits. Fig.

I 5 me June 12, 1900. In such expanded metal 6 is one form of the expanded structure that structures it is usual first to cut the series can be produced from my improved slitted of slits as required by means of suitable dies blank. and thereafter to expand the slitted blanks Ihe ribs are marked 1" r 1", and the slats in various manners. Much difficulty has between the ribs are markeds,s,and s. In

20 heretofore generally been encountered in the cutting the slits between the ribs r and r expanding of such sheets, and special procthe edges of the slits are slightly displaced, so esses, many of them slow and tedious, have as to twist or incline slightly the strips 8, as been devised to accomplish the regular and shown in Figs. 2 and 5. In Fig. 5 a pair of even expansion of the sheets without tearing dies d d are shown in section in position as 2' 5 the metal. The present invention is based they act upon the metal in the shearing operon the discovery of a simple expedient by ation. Asaresult of this twist or inclination which the expansion of the metal in the proper of the metal the rib r may be readily raised manner may be assured and greatly facilirelatively to the rib r or the rib 7* may be detated. pressed relatively to the rib 1', which is an- 36 I have discovered that in slitting the metal other way of expressing the same relation;

slight burs or rough edges are formed in the but if it is attempted to raise the rib r rela- 8o slits, and these seriously interfere with the tively to the rib r the rough edges of the expansion of the metal in any manner that strips .9 catch and interfere with the expanrequires the passage of the burred or roughsion. In the second slitted section the strips 3 5 ened edges of the slit by each other in any 8" are twisted or inclined in the same direcdirection except that in which the cuttingtion as the strips 8, as viewed in Fig. 5 and dies have originally acted upon them in the as will be plainly understood from a considoperation of making the slit. By causing the eration of Figs. 3 and 5 together. Consedies which form the slits to slightly twist and quently the rib 7 may be raised relatively to 40 incline the narrow slats or strips of metal bethe rib r, expanding the slats s, as shown tween adjacent slits in the same direction in in Fig; 6. Similarly the slats or strips 8 are which they are to be subsequently opened in twisted or inclined in the same direction, as the expanding process I have discovered that seen in section, at right angles to the ribs,

I not only can greatly facilitate the usual ex- Fig. 5. In a slitted sheet of this character,

45 panding processes, but also the slitted blank having all the slats initially twisted or in so formed is capable of being expanded in clined, as described, and gripped by the ribs the regular and in the desired manner by at its extreme edges and these ribs drawn merely applying the expanding force to its apart, the entire sheet will expand without extreme edges. the aid of any other instrumentality regularly and into the step-like formation shown in Fig. 6 and in the patent to myself, which I have referred to.

I am aware that certain expanded metal structures have been formed bysimply simultaneously slitting and partially expanding the sheet-metal'structure; but so far as I am aware the slitted blank, in which the slats or strips are merely twisted or inclined, is a new article of manufacture.

I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patcut, the following characteristic features:

1 As a new article of manufacture, a slitted blank for expanded metal structures, in which blank there are ribs alternating with slitted sections adapted to form a ribbed and slatted structure, the slats or narrow strips being slightly twisted or inclined in the said blank and the twists or inclinations of the slats in two adjacent sections being all in the same direction as measured along a section slitted sections adapted to form a ribbed and slatted structure, the slats or narrow strips of two adjacent sections being oblique to the said ribs in opposite directions and being slightly twisted or inclined in the said blank,

the said twists or inclinations being all in the same direction as measured along a section or plane at right angles to the ribs, substantially as set forth.

Signed this 3d day of July, 1900, at Niles, Ohio.

HERBERT E. WHITE.

\Vitnesscs:

J. J. BECK, BERNIOE TRUESDALE. 

